Bathing recliner



May 30, 1961 R. E. FAIN ETAL BATHING RECLINER Filed July 10, 1958 UnitedStates Patent BATHING RECLINER Ruth E. Fain and Archie I. Fain, both of55 Fairway Drive, West Newton, Mass.

Filed July 10, 1958, Ser. No. 747,611

4 Claims. (Cl. 4-185) The present invention relates to a recliner orchairrecliner primarily useful as a bathing aid.

Though reclining during tub bathing is frequently desirable it isscarcely comfortable, at least with the usual tub. Usually, the batherwill not wish to lie flat and so either leans back without support orrests the head or shoulders against the tub end so that the back isinclined but not supported, either alternative involving discomfort asis well known. For many, such as the infirm, invalids and physicallyhandicapped, reclining during bathing without assistance is notpossible. In such cases, it is awkward, difficult and tiring to providethe necessary assistance, which usually involves trying to hold thepatient in an inclined position with one hand and assisting the bathingwith the other.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a bathing aid inthe form of a device which will comfortably support a bather in areclining position, the device being suitable for use in an ordinarybathtub, thus overcoming the aforementioned difiiculties.

Often it may be desirable or necessary to take a sponge bath, withoutactual immersion of the bathers body in the tub water. Sponge bathingby'standing in a tub is difiicult at best and impossible in many cases.Another object of the invention is to facilitate sponge bathing, andpartial bathing such as douches, where body immersion in water may beundesirable, by providing a bathing aid which may be used as a chair orrecliner to support the body above the water-level in the tubcomfortably in sitting or reclining posture as desired.

- A still further object of the invention is to provide a bathing aidaccomplishing the aforesaid objectives which may be advantageously andinexpensively made of molded plastic material suitably resistant to bathwater temperatures, which is light enough to enable the device to beeasily handled, and which does not require relatively movable parts forefiective utilization.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the ensuing particular description of the preferredembodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair-recliner constructed accordingto the invention positioned for use as a bathing recliner;

Figs. 2 and 4 are respectively side elevation and end views of thedevice of Fig. 1 so positioned;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1 positioned foruse as a bathing chair;

. Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-section views respectively on the lines 55 and66 of Fig. 2.

ment of the invention there shown has a back rest part 10 and a seat orleg support part 12. The part 10 may be similar to a chair back, beingof a width and length mm forming to the bathers back with the top end 14of diminishing width to form a shoulder, neck and head rest. The backrest is also contoured to fit the back, that is, concavely curved intransverse cross-section as shown in Fig. 5. The seat part 12 has asimilar transverse concave curvature as shown in Fig.6 and as shown isconnected integrally with the back rest by a smooth, lon-' gitudinallyconcave portion 16 best shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, this curvebeing of sufficient radius so that the angle between parts 10 and 12 issomewhat greater than a right angle.

side of slot 18 is curved outwardly at 20 presenting a convex curvetoward the underside of the bathers legs. Adjacent each side edge ofparts 10 and 12 and ex-fi tending longitudinally thereof is a supportingmember in the form of a rail 22 which is formed integrally with orsuitably attached to the outer surface of these parts;

Each member 22 has a portion 24 extending from adjacent the top portion14 of the back rest to adjacent the base thereof, a portion 26 extendingfrom the outer end 20 of the seat part 10'to adjacent its inner end andan intermediate connecting portion 28. The outer edges 30 of members 22are substantially planar as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 throughout theirlength to lie flat against a planar surface. upper end to its lower endwhile portion 26 is of substantially uniform height which mayapproximate the height of the lower end of portion 24, their edges 30extending in planes which intersect at a somewhat greater angle thanthat between parts 10 and 12. Portion 28 has its edge 30 formed as aconvex curve connecting parts 24 and 26.

Used as a recliner, the device may be placed with the edges 30 of railportions 24 resting on the bottom of a bathtub represented by the planeT in Fig. 2. By virtue of the diminishing height of the portions 24 ofmembers 22, the back rest portion 10 is inclined downwardly from upperend to base'as determined by the diiference in height between the upperand lower ends of portions 24. For comfortable reclining this angle ofinclination is preferably from about 20 to about 40 to the horizontal.The bather lies in the recliner, the bathers back resting in the part10, the shoulders and neck supported by the portion 14, the thighssupported on the seat portion 12 at either side of slot 18. The kneesare thereby substan-g tially elevated with the thighs supported and thelower leg portions free so that the feet may be rested on the tub modatean adult body fully reclined.

. The level of water in the tub is adjusted to the minimum height ofportions 24 of support members 22 according Both back rest and seat partare also somewhat concavely curved longitudinally as indi-' cated inFig. 2. Centrally of part 12 is formed a slot 18" extending from theouter end to adjacent the inner end of the seat part. The outer end ofthe part 12 at either Portion 24 is of diminishing height from its" towhether it is desired that the bathers body be immersed or not immersedin the water. In case nonimmersion is desired, the water level will beless than the height of the side edges of portion 16 and the inner endof slot 18 above the tub bottom. If some immersion is desired, the waterlevel will be adjusted higher as may be suitable. In either case, itwill be observed that the slot 18 provides easy access to the water forwashing the inner and underside of the legs, for washing the lower bodyextremities and for douches. The convexly curved ends 20 of seat portion12 insures that the underside of the legs at opposite sides of the kneewill be supported out of engagement with the end edge, and to furtherinsure against discomfort due to bodily contact with sharp edges theouter end of part 12 may be convexly rounded or curved under asindicated at 32 in Fig. 2. A similar curvature is desirably provided onthe side edges and inner end of the slot 18 and along the outer edges ofthe seat and back rest portions as indicated at 33 in Figs. and 6.

If it is desired to use the device as a bathing chair to support thebody upright or nearly so it may be positioned as shown in Fig. 3 withseat portion 12 supported substantially horizontally by portions 26 ofmembers 22 resting horizontally on the tub bottom and back rest partinclined slightly to the vertical. In this position the bather sits onthe part 12 at either side and inner end of slot 18, the bathers weighton part 12 serving to hold the device in the upright position and topermit substantial support from back rest part 10 without tippingbackward. In this position, also, the water level may be adjusted to theheight of portions 22 so that the body, except possibly the feet, may bekept entirely out of the water if that is desired, or the water levelmay be high enough to cover the body or portions thereof from the waistdown. In either case, but particularly when the water level is belowpart 12, the slot 18 affords desirable ready access to the Water tofacilitate bathing as above mentioned.

The curved portion 28 connecting portions 24 and 26 of support members22 is a desirable feature since it enables the device to be rocked onthe tub bottom from upright to reclining position and vice versa. Thismay he done by the bather while either reclining or sitting in thedevice, grasping the tub sides to assist or control the rockingmovement, thus facilitating the use of the device in both positionsduring bathing.

While in Figs. 1 to 6 the portions 24 and 26 of members 22 have beenshown as continuous as may be desirable for purposes of providingadequate supporting strength, this is obviously not essential. Forexample, portions between the outer and inner ends thereof may beomitted if adequate support is provided by the remainder. Moreover, thesupport members need not extend longitudinally of the device or belocated at its side edges, although this structure is preferred. In Fig.7 is shown another embodiment in which the side support members 22 ofFigs. l-6 are replaced with three transversely extending support members34, 36 and 38. In the upright position shown in this figure, the deviceis supported by members 36 and 38 which are integral with, or securedto, the outer and inner ends of the bottom surface of the seat part 12',member 38 also underlying portion 16' (parts the same as in Figs. 1-6being designated by primes of the same reference numerals). In thereclining position, the device is supported by member 34 and a curvedheel portion 40 of member 38, member 34 being of greater height thanmember 38 to provide an inclination similar to that of the embodimentpreviously described. Again, members 34, 36 and 38 need not becontinuous between their ends but may be provided as two or moreseparate parts each extending only partially across the width of thedevice, as will be appreciated.

The devices of Figs. 1 to 7 are so designed that they may be madeentirely of lightweight, molded plastic comp 4 a position, as ispreferred, and indeed may be entirely produced in a single moldingoperation which is advantageeous from a cost standpoint. The plasticcomposition must of course not be such as to soften materially in waterat bath water temperatures. However, there are many plastic compositionswhich are not softened or adversely affected by water at suchtemperatures or even at higher temperatures such as boiling water.Resinfiber glass plastic compositions such as are utilized for theformation of chair bodies or parts are preferred because of their lightweight, great strength and low cost. If it is not desired oradvantageous to form the entire device at a single molding, componentsmay be formed separately and subsequently joined together in anysuitable manner. Any metal parts are, of course, preferably of anti-rustcomposition such as stainless steel, a further advantage of the allmolded plastic construction being that it requires no metal parts.

Fig. 8 shows an additional modification in the form of a detachable headrest extension at the top end of the back rest portion 10". Thisextension is shown as a waterproof cushion 40 having at either endprojecting rods 42 (one shown) adapted to be removably received inspaced sockets 44 (one shown) molded or otherwise provided on the backof the upper end of the back rest which may correspond to the part =14of Fig. 1 and is therefore designated with a double prime of thatreference numeral. This modification may be desirable not only forproviding more head support and greater comfort thereof as compared withthe device of Fig. 1 but also in permitting the back rest part 10 to bemade of length suflicient only to support the back and shoulders withhead support being provided if desired by attaching the extension. Theprovision of such an extension may be desirable also for women bathersto insure that their hair will be kept out of the water when reclining.

Dimensions can be varied within wide ranges. For an adult, a width ofabout 13-15 inches for the back rest and seat parts is suitable, while alength of the back rest portion of about 15 inches and of the seatportion about 10 inches is usually adequate. The slot 18 may extendapproximately the full length of the seat portion 12 to about itsjunction with portion 16 or be shorter as desired, and should be wideenough to permit the bathers hand to pass freely therethrough, forexample 4 to 6 inches wide. Support members 22' may be about 3 inches inheight in portions 26 and 28 and may increase in height to approximately6 inches at the upper ends to provide a comfortable inclination plus anadequate minimum height for support above bath water level. The relativeheight of members 34, 36 and 38 of Fig. 7 may be similar. Various othersizes can be provided for adults and smaller sizes for children andinfants as desired as will be apparent.

It will be understood that we have described and illustrated herein onlypreferred embodiments of the invention and that departures from detailsthereof may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A recliner device for use in bathing, comprising a back rest memberand a seat member joined to one end of said back rest member, saidmembers having their front, body-engaging surfaces extending at anobtuse angle to each other, said seat member having laterally spacedthigh-supporting portions at its outer end and a cavity between saidportions extending substantially the full length of said portions, andsupport structure projecting rearwardly from said back rest memberhaving its rearmost surface disposed in a support plane spaced closelyrearwardly of the juncture between said back rest and seat member andgenerally parallel to the transverse axis of said device, said supportplane diverging rearwardly of the back rest member from said juncturetoward the free end of said back rest member, the angle between saidsupport plane and said seat member being substantially greater than theangle between said support plane and said back rest member.

2. The device'claimed in claim 1 wherein said cavity extends through thefront end of said seat member.

3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein said support structure includesrails at opposite sides of said back rest member, extendinglongitudinally thereof and projecting rearwardly thereof, said railshaving their rearmost surfaces lying in said support plane.

4. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein the undersurface of said seatmember is provided with support structure extending rearwardly therefromhaving its rearmost surface disposed substantially in a support plane 15plane of said seat member so that said device may be rocked on ahorizontal surface between positions of coincidence of one and the otherof said support planes alternatively with said surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.142,800 Watson Nov. 6, 1945 D. 171,210 Jones Dec. 29, 1953 1,252,751Weatherford Ian. 8, 1918 2,005,972 Gallop June 25, 1935 2,685,326 LehmanAug. 3, 1954 !2,808,875 Bargen Oct. 8, 1957 2,847,061 Morton Aug. 12,1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 769,258 France June 5, 1934 909,377 France Dec. 20,1945

